‘You can’t be burdened by a legacy’: James Taylor-Foster on his vision for Hong Kong's Para Site as it turns 30

Hong Kong non-profit art space Para Site marked its 30th anniversary in 2026 as it entered a new phase under executive director James Taylor-Foster, a 33-year-old British curator who took the role last month after the position had been vacant since last year. Founded in 1996 by seven Hong Kong artists, Para Site helped define the city’s contemporary art scene before the rise of major institutions such as M+ and Tai Kwun and the post-2013 expansion tied to Art Basel Hong Kong. Taylor-Foster, whose background includes nearly a decade at Sweden’s ArkDes and projects like the touring exhibition “Weird Sensation Feels Good: The World of ASMR,” said the institution must not be “burdened by a legacy” and aims to broaden Para Site’s scope beyond a niche contemporary-art audience. He described his approach as both a continuation and a rupture, with more porous programming across practices such as music, dance, and live art while maintaining ambition.

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